Dining Gluten-Free at WDW

November 2009
by Rhoda Smith, Pittsburgh, PA

We were at WDW November 7-14, 2009. My husband had been diagnosed with Celiac Disease just a couple of months before this trip, so we suddenly had to jump into the world of gluten-free (GF) eating at WDW! I want to reassure GF eaters that it really was an easy process, even for beginners like us! The key is to do a lot of preparation and researching before you go. The more you know before, the better prepared you are for your GF dining experiences when you arrive! Planning is essential.

Some important phone numbers/email addresses to know:
-General phone number for special dietary needs (call before trip): 407-824-5967

-Magic Kingdom: 407-824-5967
-Epcot: 407-560-7292
-DHS: 407-560-1347
-Animal Kingdom: 407-939-7536
-specialdiets@disneyworld.com (email prior to trip)
(Know that many restaurants in Epcot and all in AK are not Disney-owned, but still do provide GF options)

By either calling 407-824-5967 or emailing to the address above, WDW will send you an email full of information for GF dining. You want to do this as soon as possible to help with your meal planning, especially if you are using the Disney Dining Plan. There is a form to fill out with the name of the person who has the dietary restriction, contact info, restaurants with ADR's and confirmation numbers, etc. They make sure that your dietary need is connected with each reservation. I just needs to be returned to them prior to your visit. Then they also send several lists of info regarding GF dining, including:

When making ADR's via phone, be sure to tell the Cast Member you are speaking with about your GF dietary need. They will notate this on your reservation. When making online ADR's, there is a place to “click” for special dietary needs, and “wheat allergy” is one of them. You will have to notate this with each restaurant ADR, even if they are tied to your hotel reservation.

At every table-service restaurant, the server was aware of our dietary need and the chef came to our table to discuss food options. All of the chefs were knowledgeable, some more than others, but all left us comfortable in knowing our food would be prepared GF and would be tasty! All presented the possibilities of GF options from the menu, and then offered to make something totally different if nothing sounded good. For buffet table-service restaurants, the chef took my husband around the buffet and discussed every option, declaring it either GF or not GF. (I can assure you that at all buffets, he was able to load his plate several times over!). At a non-buffet restaurant, a separate server (or the chef himself) brings out the meal on its own tray, so there is no potential for cross-contamination with the meals for the rest of the family.

At counter-service restaurants, the manager must be notified and he will review GF options with you. Then he goes back and chooses one food-preparer to prepare the food and bring it to your table, again on its' own tray. (**know that this takes longer than the preparation of normal food, so you may want to put in your GF food order first, and then order regular food for the rest of the family, so that GF tray has a head start).

We ate at the following restaurants and had these experiences:

-Pecos Bill's in the MK: Any sandwich can be prepared and placed on a GF bun. French Fries were made in a fryer dedicated to GF preparation (and took a good bit of time to fry). At this restaurant, the GF bun was hard, and the GF cookies provided for dessert (in a big package) were very small and average tasting.
-Tony's Town Square in the MK: EXCELLENT for GF dining. Rice pasta can be substituted for all pasta dishes except the ravioli. The mushroom sauce on the grilled pork tenderloin is not gluten free so that must be left off. But otherwise all dishes can be made GF. Veggies (artichokes, broccoli, red peppers) and marinara sauce were substituted for pasta and mushroom sauce on the grilled pork tenderloin. GF rolls were provided for dipping in oil (these were cold and hard…in other restaurants the same rolls were heated and very good).
-Pinocchio Village Haus in the MK: GF pizza is available and was very good. French fries are baked instead of fried, yogurt cup for dessert.
-Hollywood & Vine in DHS: many options available…buffet options change so I didn't write them all down. Caesar salad is not GF, and the only dessert is soft-serve ice cream in a dish.
-ABC Commissary in DHS: Chicken Cordon Bleu can be made on GF bun (or hamburger on GF bun). French Fries (didn't taste like baked, may also have their own fryer) were said to be GF. Large fruit bowl for dessert. Manager stated that the salads here are pre-made and dressings are questionable as to being GF.
-Tangierine Cafe in Morocco, Epcot: EXCELLENT for GF dining. Chicken/beef/lamb mixture with onion, olive, lettuce, hummus is served on a plate (instead of in a wrap as a gyro). GF buns are provided for hummus spread. No dessert option, but side of rice was provided since there was no dessert.
-Garden Grill in Epcot: EXCELLENT for GF dining. Meals here are served family-style: fish, turkey and beef with potatoes, stuffing, veggies all on the same plate. For the GF eater, a separate plate of these foods is provided, with fish made without breading, stuffing left off, and no sauce on the steak or gravy on the turkey. Mashed potatoes and vegetables (squash, snow peas) are on the same plate. (To stay clear…the GF eater gets his own tray of meats/sides prepared GF. The rest of the family gets a normal tray of foods). There is also a salad and GF rolls that were very good warm. Fruit was provided for dessert.
-Cinderella's Royal Table in the MK: All menu options are adaptable for being gluten-free. My husband had the salmon, rice and GF rolls. An appetizer was brought to the table, containing bruschetta, cheese, greens, Mediterranean salad…be sure to ask for a GF version for the GF diner (they just leave off the bruschetta). Sorbet for dessert.
-Columbia Harbor House in the MK: GF fried chicken and French fries, GF macaroni and cheese, big GF chocolate chip cookie (packaged) for dessert.
-Flame Tree BBQ in AK: EXCELLENT GF dining! Either the ribs or chicken meal are GF, with baked beans and cole slaw (they use a corn-based starch). GF prepackaged brownie for dessert. **This was by far the quickest counter service meal…perhaps because no french-fries were involved?)
-Le Cellier in Canada in Epcot: EXCELLENT GF dining! Any steaks were suitable, but the chef recommended the 14 oz NY Strip Steak or the 16 oz Kansas City Strip Steak (because the accompanying sides were GF). The KC Strip was excellent, with a side of delicious cream cheese mashed potatoes. GF rolls were provided instead of the regular breadsticks. And the best…Crème Brulee for dessert!
-Cantina de San Angel in Mexico in Epcot—We didn't get the name written down, but the chicken/corn tortilla dish that is the first option on the menu is GF (“something-pollo”). Comes with refried black beans and Mexican rice. There was no dessert option. (**This place seemed to be the least knowledgeable about GF preparation, language barrier did not help any. They did provide a notebook with labels of all their products used in preparations of food. The corn tortillas were GF).
-Cosmic Ray's at the MK: At this restaurant, there are many options and 3 service bays. The one my husband chose was a GF chicken salad, with a large GF chocolate chip cookie (packaged).
-Backlot Express in DHS: A large grilled chicken salad and large fruit bowl were the favorite GF option here.

THE ULTIMATE KEY is to be sure your server and chef (in table service restaurants) or the manager (at counter service restaurants) is made aware of your dietary need. You will get personalized service, one-on-one preparation and service of your meal. WDW is better about GF dining than any restaurant we have encountered outside of WDW!

A Gluten Free Family Vacation

The folks
at Disney World impressed us before we ever even got on the flight
to head to Disney. We received an email containing restaurants that
could accommodate us, the GF products carried in Disney World, and
a generic food allergy form to be filled out. We were very skeptical
about the generic form but we included all of our table service reservation
numbers and also sent in the quick service locations we planned on
visiting. From there our journey began. We were contacted directly
by the chefs and sous chefs of the restaurants we planned on visiting.
Yep, you read that correctly. The chefs called or emailed us to discuss
menu options, etc. One of the quick serve locations we mentioned wanting
to visit in Hollywood Studios would not be able to accommodate GF.
They called to let us know what quick serve locations we could go
to instead. It was nice to have a warm and fuzzy feeling before our
trip even began.

Magic
Kingdom

Our first
dining experience in the Magic Kingdom was at the Crystal Palace
for a character dining with Winnie the Pooh and friends. When we checked
in they had our reservation stating we had a food allergy. Once we
were seated a chef came out to our table. Since this was a buffet,
the chef walked the line with us. He informed us of what was safe
and then took our order. He went to the back and got us fresh items
so there was no chance of contamination. We were served Ener-g tapioca
dinner rolls with our meal. I took one and broke it in half. The texture
threw me since it appeared to be like tearing apart a foam cushion.
However, we didn't let that deter us. One bite was all it took
to get us hooked. These were absolutely fabulous! We ordered seconds
of the rolls. Definitely one of the best GF rolls we've ever
had. For dessert we ordered the GF brownie. I have no idea who the
vendor is for this item. I would say to avoid this like the plague,
though. I've never tried a worse brownie. It was a very mealy
texture and tasted horrible. Let me put it this way, after that first
brownie experience, we were to chicken to try brownies anywhere else
in case they were the same! Overall, the dining at Crystal Palace
was a wonderful experience. It was nice to know that we had our own
chef to look after us.

We had
our second table service at Tony's Town Square. This is
a cute Lady and the Tramp themed restaurant. Everyone remembers that
cute spaghetti dinner at Tony's where they kiss. The have a variety
of options at this location, even boasting GF meatballs. The items
we choose were chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi, and macaroni and cheese.
They do carry those fabulous dinner rolls at this location. Have I
mentioned you need to try them, yet? Every table service we attended
had the fabulous rolls. We always ordered seconds. Overall, the food
here was ho-hum. The sauces didn't have much flavor and the veggies
in the shrimp scampi were odd. Instead of the traditional garlic flavor
it was overpowered by sun dried tomatoes and asparagus. It reminded
me of a pasta primavera and not shrimp scampi.

Our quick
service meal at Cosmic Ray's was good. We had great customer
service. As soon as we walked in and told the attendant we were GF,
she handled our order from start to finish. So, even though it's
a quick service location you are treated as thought it is table service
with them bringing your meal out to you. They do carry GF rolls here
and can do everything but chicken nuggets. The children's menu
at this location was limited to hamburger or hotdog, though. We ordered
a rib meal, bbq pulled pork sandwich, and a hotdog. I don't know
if they heat the rolls differently here or what. It wasn't good,
though. They fall apart and you're better off eating the meal
minus the rolls. I did notice that the rolls at the table service
locations were wonderful but at the quick service locations throughout
Disney World it was better to eat just the meat.

Our second
quick service meal was at the Columbia Harbor House. This was
definitely our best quick service experience of our whole trip. Honestly,
the GF selection was limited. What the menu lacked in variety the
staff made up for in customer service. We had the pleasure of meeting
Edward from Warren Robbins, WA. He was by far the most attentive manager
we'd come across. He pulled out the books to go over safe options
with us. We ordered chicken tenders, and the Garden Harvest salad
substituting the chicken tenders on it, as well. He came out while
our food was cooking to double check one of the items on the salad
to be sure it was safe. I questioned whether they had fries at this
location since he hadn't mentioned it earlier. He stated that
they did. When our order came out I was surprised to see fries there
since we technically hadn't ordered them. Edward brought them
out since I had asked about them, though. The chicken tenders were
great. Definitely one of the best GF varieties I've ever tried.
The dessert options here were limited to applesauce or grapes. The
kid's meal came with carrots and grapes. Edward checked on us
several times during our meal. Once we done eating he came over and
chatted with for quite awhile. He mentioned the training they go through
to be aware of food sensitivities, etc. He spoke of his long and happy
career with the Disney family. He also told us about the chefs that
get assigned to each allergy family as they come into an establishment.
At the end of the meal he brought out some of the trading pins to
get our girls started on their own collection. If you have the good
fortune of meeting Edward during your visit, consider yourself lucky!

Animal
Kingdom

We chose
to eat at the Yak and Yeti. Numerous items could be made GF
here. The flavoring would primarily be tamarind based. I was disappointed
that none of the interesting tamarind or maple flavors could be used.
I guess they just stock blends instead of having separate containers
of the maple or tamarind. This was probably the most disappointing
table service of our entire stay. The food was so bland. You can usually
taste ginger and garlic in the sauces. All of the dishes had the same
boring flavor. The chef essentially just made tamari gravy that he
poured over the entrees. The flavor could have been so much better
if some ginger or garlic were added. We ordered beef and broccoli,
Mahi Mahi, and a kid's vegetable lo mein. Can you see the vegetable's
in the lo mein? Neither could we. Thankfully we ordered broccoli and
carrots as the sides with her meal. The fish was cooked well but the
sauce didn't add anything to it. The beef and broccoli was bland.
I will give them credit for having tasty sorbets for dessert. Mango,
Raspberry, and lemon sorbet's to choose from. Yummy!

For dinner
we ate at the Flame Tree BBQ. It was simple but yummy. We ordered
ribs and chicken there. The food was well cooked, the ribs had a good
smoke on them, and the chicken was nice and tender. This is an excellent
GF option. If you enjoy BBQ be sure to stop by this quick service
restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

Hollywood
Studio's

Our first
table service dinner was at Mama Melrose's. They carry
GF pasta at this location and have numerous GF options for entrees
and dessert. They can even do fried calamari, chicken parmesan, or
eggplant. The chef uses a rice flour blend on them. For dessert you
can have a chocolate flourless cake that's not even on the menu,
creme limone with whipped cream and berries, and various gelatos.
We ordered the wood grilled shrimp pasta, Fra Diavolo, and spaghetti
w/ tomato sauce. This was a great meal and the calamari so very yummy.

Our second
table service was at the Sci Fi Diner. The food here was fair
at best. If you choose to go to this restaurant just remember that
you are going for the atmosphere and not the food. We ordered a pasta
primavera, steak, and a hot dog.

Our first
quick service experience was at Pizza Planet. We had difficulties
with the young cast member taking our order. We were already used
to dealing with the managers as soon as we walked in and that is what
we expected. When we stated that we are GF, the girl stated it was
fine that she could take our order. So, we attempted to order. Then
the girl told us that GF could NOT be accommodated on a kid's
meal. I told her that our entire party is GF, though. She said, sorry
but we can't do it. I requested to speak to the manager.
The girl got an attitude and stated, The answer is going to
be the same but fine I'll go and get her. Pizza Planet
is a pizza place and a large arcade restaurant. Do you really think
that we chose this restaurant? Heck no, our kid wanted this one. When
the manager came out I explained that our entire party if GF. I then
told her that the cast member stated GF was not possible on a kid's
meal. The manager apologized and gave our daughter the GF pizza kid's
meal. The manager even threw in some yummy all fruit bars for dessert
that aren't even on the menu. I was thankful that the manager
dealt with the situation accordingly.

Our second
quick service experience was at the Back Lot Express. Not only
do they have a dedicated fryer for GF, they also have a nice southwest
salad with corn chip strips and a chimichurri dressing. Dessert here
is limited to pudding or grapes. The only child's menu option
is chicken nuggets with fries, carrots, or grapes. They do have hot
dogs and burgers on the menu here but, that is not an option for the
kid's meal.

Hollywood
Studios is the one park that needs to be more accommodating to kid's
GF requests. Pizza Planet didn't want to accommodate a GF kid's
meal. At two other quick service locations (Back Lot Express and Studio
Catering Company) there was only one kid's meal option. What
are you supposed to do if your child doesn't want chicken?

Epcot

We had
a character dining at the Akershurs restaurant in Norway. The
best thing about this dining experience is that the princesses are
present and stop by every table. Before you are led to your table
you have your picture taken with a princess. Surprisingly, you are
given the picture for free. Yep, you read that correctly. You get
the princess picture for free. This is a buffet setting. The chef
came out and discussed our menu options with us. Since the buffet
didn't look like there was much chance of cross contamination,
I followed the chef's assessment and just ate from the buffet
instead of getting fresh items from the back. I would love to be able
to say that is was a safe dining experience. However, I cannot. I
believe I was contaminated at this meal. I do appreciate the fact
that they really do try hard to keep you safe, though. Unfortunately,
following this meal, I got to be very familiar with the restroom.
The meal was tasty and would been great aside from the probable contamination
issue. The only dessert options were chocolate flourless cake and
rice cream with berries.

Our second
table service was at the Coral Reef. Once again the chef came
out to discuss menu options and to take our order. Out of all of the
menu's that we had encountered over the trip, this menu appears
to have the most GF options. We ordered the pan seared catch of the
day (Grouper), seared Ahi Tuna, and Mahi Mahi. The food was all cooked
wonderfully. Once again we received a nice big basket of tapioca rolls.
The dessert options were crcme brulee, chocolate flourless cake, and
sorbet. This was our best meal of the entire trip.

Port
Orlean's Riverside Resort  Riverside Mill Food Court

We had
a couple of meals at our resort. It was not on the list of restaurants
accommodating GF options however, Boatwright's was on the list.
So, maybe they grabbed the chef from Boatwright's? As soon as
the staff at the food court knows that you are GF, they get the chef
for you. The chef goes over the various options with you. At breakfast
we were able to order pancakes and waffles. They come with sausage,
bacon, and fresh fruit. The bacon here is paper thin. Other items
available at breakfast include eggs, omelets, and potato wedges.

For lunch
the chef came out to go over our options again. He had me follow him
over to the salad station so he could make my grilled chicken salad.
The chef waved me to the front so I could tell him what I wanted on
my salad.

In closing,
I would just like to say, Disney World does care and goes out of their
way to ensure a safe GF vacation. Be sure to make reservations at
the dining locations and let them know when you'll be there.
If you've been considering a Disney vacation, go for it. You
won't be disappointed.

A Gluten-Free Disney Dining Experience

Christie, October 2008

We have been big Disney fans since our first visit in 1992. Since then, we've been annually vacationing with the mouse. But when I was diagnosed with celiac disease this summer, I was suddenly dreading being away from my safe gluten-free kitchen during our planned October vacation. After reading everything I could find about vacationing gluten-free, I was happy to learn that Disney has an excellent reputation for allergy awareness.

Planning in advance - With that being said, I took the advice of others on this site and made sure that all of our table seating reservations were marked with my special dietary requirement and gluten intolerance. I also emailed Disney and was sent a list of all the foods that they carried in the parks which would be safe, all the places that I could eat, and a list of all the gluten-free substitutions that they have in the restaurants (such as Ener-G tapioca rolls, Amy's pizza dough, gluten-free brownies, rice flour, etc.).

Next, I made an effort to contact all of the chefs at the restaurants where we had table seating reservations. Because of my work schedule, it was a bit hard to get in touch (I would recommend around 4PM), but I was able to speak with Chef Phillip from Citricos in advance. My phone conversation with him was wonderful. He put my mind completely at ease and told me all of the things I could eat (the list was endless). We had reservations for Citricos on my birthday so I asked if it might be possible to have a special dessert (preferably something chocolate!). He told me that would not be a problem at all, and came up with a flourless cake, while speaking with his sous-chef, Eddy.

Despite all the wonderful things I had heard and my great experience with the chefs and managers so far, I was still nervous and wanted to bring some snacks with us (just incase). I was also happy to find out that although Disney does not usually allow outside food, they do let guests with special dietary needs bring snacks into the parks. So I packed up some gluten-free granola, energy bars, and crackers, and was on my way!

Arrival - This was our first DVC trip and we stayed at Saratoga Springs. It happened to be excellent timing as it was great to have the fully equipped kitchen (fridge, microwave, stove, sink, dishwasher, etc.) and we stocked up on a few things to make dining easier. The convenience store at Saratoga carried Yoplait yogurt (labeled gluten free) in peach and berry flavor. I had that with my gluten-free granola for breakfast daily. They also had gluten free brownies and Lays Stax potato chips (made on dedicated equipment and marked naturally gluten free). However, my favorite thing was that the bar at Saratoga Springs (Turf Club Lounge) carried Redbridge gluten-free beer. This was excellent news and throughout my trip, I was able to relax near the pool and enjoy a delicious cold one!

Citricos (Grand Floridian) – My birthday dinner was amazing! As soon as we arrived, I reminded the hostess of my gluten intolerance (which I recommend doing at all restaurants). She was very friendly and said that she would make sure our server knew and that the chef would come out to meet us. For drinks, I started out with a Citricos bellini (made with champagne, peaches, and raspberries); our server checked to make sure that it was not a packaged mix and that it would be naturally gluten-free. The head chef, Phillip, came out to our table and walked me through the menu. Since everything was made fresh, there was very little that I wouldn't be able to have. I opted for the naturally gluten-free Filet Giardiniere (Filet of Beef with House-cured Vegetables, Quattro Formaggi Crushed Potatoes and Veal Glacé de Viande). It was delicious and by far, the best meal I had eaten in quite some time. For dessert, sous-chef Eddy brought me out a chocolate flourless cake that he had specially made for my birthday. It was a molten chocolate cake with a lava center and was exceptional! I almost cried because it was so wonderful and they made me feel so special. The chefs really went out of their way to create such an enjoyable experience, but they do it in such a gracious manner and act like it's no trouble at all. Truly magical!

Turf Club Lunch (Saratoga Springs) – Once again, the chef came out right away to discuss menu options with me. Since it was only lunch and I really wanted to try these Ener-G rolls, I opted for the Angus Chuck Cheeseburger - topped with cheddar cheese and applewood smoked bacon. I also had the french fries since the chef assured me that they were safe (dedicated fryer, new oil, and a guarantee that he would prepare them himself). Once again, my meal was very yummy. The bun wasn't bad at all and was basically masked by the excellent flavor of the cheeseburger. The fries were also crisped to perfection.

Flying Fish (Boardwalk) – After such a delicious and filling lunch, we were looking for something light for dinner. The chef came out to speak with me and recommended the Potato-Wrapped Red Snapper, served over a Creamy Leek Fondue, with a Veal Glace, Red Wine, and Cassis Butter Sauce. I decided to try it and wasn't disappointed. At first, I found the snapper to be a bit dry, but realized that it was really meant to be paired with the leek fondue. Eating the two in unison greatly enhanced the experience and dinner was once again, very good. We were too stuffed to even attempt dessert at this point.

Flame Tree BBQ (Animal Kingdom) – This was a previous favorite of mine and one that I was looking forward to trying gluten-free. However, I must say that the experience was not as fabulous as I had hoped. We arrived for lunch a bit early (around 11AM – I had heard that it's usually best to go before or after peak hours in order to speak with the manager). It wasn't too crowded yet and the manager came out and showed us a book with all of the ingredients for their menu choices. The St. Louis Ribs were safe, but the BBQ sauce and baked beans were questionable (due to modified food starch). Also, they are no longer serving corn on the cob and now just have a corn muffin, which I couldn't have. I ordered the ribs (listed as ribs only – allergy), but without the sauce, beans, and muffin, it was a bit plain and not so appetizing. I did however see someone with a mixed greens salad (with chicken) that looked quite good. I think I would opt for that choice next time.

Turf Club Dinner (Saratoga Springs) – Amazing! I didn't expect to enjoy this restaurant because of its fairly standard American fare, but the food was truly outstanding and the staff was exceptional! Our chef, Ron, came out to meet us right away and reviewed all of the menu choices. There wasn't a thing that I couldn't have! He offered to make rice pasta, gluten-free flat bread, crab cakes or fried calamari (with rice four), and said he could alter any menu choice accordingly. I decided to go with the Free-Range Chicken Breast - stuffed with sun-dried tomato pesto and goat cheese with roasted garlic risotto and balsamic glaze. Because the stuffing would have breadcrumbs, Ron made me two grilled chicken breasts topped with the pesto and goat cheese served alongside the risotto. I also had a mixed greens salad with a lemon-poppy vinaigrette dressing for an appetizer. And finally, Ron made me a special gluten-free brownie sundae (topped with Edy's ice cream) for dessert. I really enjoyed this meal and can't rave enough about the excellent service that I received!!

Artist Palette Lunch (Saratoga Springs) – At first, I was a little nervous about eating here because the counter service did not seem to really cater to special dietary requirements. But boy was I wrong! We once again asked to speak with a manager, but the server said that she would instead send out the chef to discuss my needs. And what do u know, Ron came out to meet us! He was just as gracious as the night before and said that he could make any sandwich, salad or PIZZA that I wanted. Since swimming was on the list for today and I had such a big meal for dinner, I chose the House Salad with grilled chicken (served with the citrus vinaigrette, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, diced apples and chopped walnuts). Ron also waited in line with us to make sure that the cashier properly submitted the allergy requirement. Our food was served very quickly and was once again delicious!

Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club) – Our waiter here was a long time Disney employee and was very knowledgeable regarding my gluten-free requirement. He brought out some Ener-G tapioca rolls right away and had the chef come out to meet me. The chef went through the menu and showed me what food I should avoid (this list here was a bit longer than other Disney restaurants and the chef did not seem to know how to alter anything that was normally made with flour, but this was OK because it was a steakhouse and the best meals were gluten free anyway – I was just happy that he knew about cross contamination and made sure that everything would be prepared safely). I started out with the Chilled Seafood Salad (Lobster, Shrimp and Jumbo Crab with Lemon Créme Fraiche and Avocado Cream – naturally gluten free). I had never had anything similar and it was excellent. For my entrée, I chose to eat the Yachtsman Filet Mignon, an 8-ounce Filet with Mashed Potatoes and a Red Wine Sauce. This was very good (although my similar meal at Citricos was admittedly better). I also had the crème brulee for dessert, which was outstanding. During dinner, the chef came out again to make sure that I was enjoying everything and that all the food was prepared to my satisfaction. I greatly appreciated this customer service and attention to detail – it really is the Disney Difference.

Snacks – I had a variety of different snacks throughout my stay. Some of my favorites were the pineapple and vanilla swirl Dole Whip at Aloha Isle in Adventureland (Magic Kingdom) and the chocolate/caramel popcorn that I had in Epcot (this was a prepackaged bag that could be found in most convenience stores).

Overall, I was able to eat well and safely throughout my entire trip. I'm very happy to say that this experience exceeded all of my expectations and I can't wait to travel back to Disney World again soon!

Sandy Morris' GF Dining in Disney Adventure

February 2007

Cinderella's
Castle for Dinner - It
was unfortunate that we were REALLY hungry arriving at the castle
for dinner, as it took quite a while to get to the actual food. If
our tummies hadn't been so rumbly, we would have been able to
enjoy the ambience of the castle, with its suits of armor and stained
glass windows depicting scenes from Cinderella. We would have been
more patient while we waited for Cinderella to return from her tea
break so we could have our picture taken. I'd have rather
skipped the picture and gone straight to the food, but when we attempted
to storm the castle, we were promptly returned back to the queue to
wait for Her Majesty.

Since
I have to have a gluten-free diet, they sent a chef around to my table eventually.
To be fair, he showed up long before our actual server. Again, we
were cranky from hunger and unable to properly enjoy the experience.
But at last the food arrived, and all the problems magically disappeared.

The chef
went over the menu with me and showed me which entrees and sides were
ok for me, and allowed me to mix and match to create a safe and enjoyable
meal. This is a fixed price meal with an appetizer/salad, entrée,
and dessert.

I began
with the BLT Salad, which sounds heavy, but was actually very light
and refreshing. It was a small salad of lettuce and spinach, topped
with bacon, tomato, and egg with a roasted shallot vinaigrette. This
was my only safe choice among the appetizers, but it was what I would
have ordered anyway, and it was delicious.

For my
entrée, I had the pork tenderloin, which is normally served
with orzo, but I substituted smoked corn polenta, resulting in the
best meal I had inside the Magic Kingdom park. It was fabulous, and
with yummy food in my tummy, my mood was definitely on an upswing.

I think
the disappointment on my face must have been pretty obvious when the
chef said the only dessert he had for me was raspberry sorbet, so
he immediately offered to bring me strawberries with whipped cream
instead. I agreed and it was delicious, though I have to admit, I
later saw a server bringing a raspberry sorbet to another customer,
and it actually looked really good.

The food
in the castle is great, but the high price tag is really for the show.
The Fairy Godmother and the two girl mice from the Cinderella movie
do a floor show that is very uplifting and funny. Afterwards, everyone
had the opportunity to take pictures of the characters, so it was
great scrapbooking material as well.

I would
highly recommend this meal for all GF adults.

Crystal
Palace - Everywhere we went, my GF needs were already in the computer
and the servers did not need to be made aware of it. Instead of having
the server try to figure out what might be safe, they let me know
as soon as I sat down that a chef would be out to talk to me. I greatly
appreciate this, even though it meant I often had to wait; at home
I am always encountering helpful servers who are certain
they know what I can eat and are reluctant to let me talk to someone
in the kitchen.

At the
Crystal Palace , the chef walked me through the buffet line, showing
me which foods were safe for me. He offered to make me a waffle or
pancake, which I declined, but I accepted his offer of tapioca dinner
rolls. I ate bacon, potatoes, eggs, and lots of fruit, but I was especially
happy with the rolls, which I ate four of.

The Crystal
Palace is a character breakfast with Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger.
In addition to the picture taking at each table, the characters also
lead the children on a parade throughout the restaurant, which makes
a great energetic start to the day.

I recommend
Crystal Palace for its fun atmosphere and quantity of food. The food
quality is good, but not memorable; however, if you are not eating
breakfast at Cinderella's or Chef Mickey's, this is a good
choice.

Boma
-- Boma
is a hotel restaurant located in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I was really
excited about Boma, but I'm afraid it didn't live up to
my expectations. For starters, it's hard to get to. Animal Kingdom
Lodge is located out in the middle of nowhere and to get there from
the Polynesian, we had to first take a boat to the MK (believe it
or not, the monorail was broken), then take a bus from the MK to Animal
Kingdom, stopping at Blizzard Beach along the way.

So on
to Boma! I had read that instead of a buffet line, Boma was set up
in stations called pods throughout the restaurant, with
chefs nearby to tell you about the dishes. Well, guess what
buffet line. No pods, no chefs, just a standard buffet line, with
placards to tell you what you are eating. Don't know what Kofta
is? Salaai? Too bad. You are going to have to go track down your server
and ask him.

Of course,
I had a chef to take me through and tell me what was safe, thank goodness.
I would have been lost trying to make guesses on my own. However,
I didn't really get a lot of information on the actual food,
just if it was safe or not. The meats (salmon and beef) were not GF,
but the chef offered to make me a piece of either without seasoning.
I decided instead to go vegetarian for this meal and broaden my culinary
horizons, which is why I was in an African restaurant to begin with.

I had
Avocado, Papaya, and Grapefruit Salad, some Saffron Rice, Potatoes
With  Afritude, and FuFu, which is a combination of white
potatoes and yams, mashed together. (Really delicious!) I Googled
FuFu when I got home. Apparently the term refers to a wide variety
of dishes, many of which contain wheat, so I would not assume this
is safe to eat without double checking, even at Boma.

I had
some stir-fry vegetables, which were surprisingly spicy, like there
was a hot pepper of some kind in it. There was an impressive array
of desserts that I, of course, had to pass over. I was able to have
rice pudding (the sticky kind with raisins) and some small flourless
brownies that tasted like they were made on sugar, butter, and cocoa
powder and nothing else. It was very flat, so I don't think there
were any leavening ingredients in them. Very yummy.

Our server
was a fabulous gentleman who was also celiac. When pressed, he admitted
that he does not generally find much he can eat at Boma, as he is
also diabetic and lactose intolerant. I gave him my deepest sympathies
and wished him healthy eating.

Flame
Tree BBQ - Flame
Tree BBQ is a counter service restaurant in Animal Kingdom, which
I had previously passed over as it appeared to have no seating. It
actually has ample outdoor seating behind the restaurant, including
tables next to a beautiful fountain (with ducks!) or by the lagoon,
with a perfect view of Mt Everest. It was a lovely peaceful oasis
away from the crowds.

I knew
the St Louis Ribs were GF, but I wasn't sure if the baked beans
were, so I skipped them. The ribs were great. My daughter and I shared
a plate and devoured them quickly. She got my corn on the cob, so
I can't report on that. My son's kid meal came with carrots
and grapes, so I shared those with him and let her have the corn.
I
have eaten at Tusker House on previous trips, and I am so glad to
have found a replacement. I recommend Flame Tree instead.

Victoria
and Albert's - Victoria
& Albert's is Disney's premier restaurant, in their
Grand Floridian hotel. This is one of those Special Occasion, Once
In A Lifetime kind of restaurants. Unless you think nothing of dropping
$500 for dinner for two, in which case, can you please take me with
you?

Let's
start with the price, or else you won't read any farther. How
do we get to 500 bucks? This
is a fixed price menu at $115 per guest in other words, $230
for two. Add
in wine although you can order by the glass, the full experience
requires the wine pairing. This gives you a new glass of wine with
each of your seven courses, each specially selected to complement
that food. Wine pairing adds $60 per guest, bringing our total to
350 smackers.

But wait!
There's more! Not all the items on the menu are included in the
price. Some items have a surcharge. If you want to have Iranian Oestra
Caviar as your appetizer, that will add $112 to your total price.
We skipped the caviar, but chose to swallow a couple of
surcharges. I added on $15 for Foie Gras, on the chef's recommendation
that it was the best thing on the menu, and another $30 for Australian
Kobe Beef Tenderloin, the famously pricey steak. My husband chose
to add a $20 surcharge for Seared Wild Turbot, a fish that neither
of us had ever heard of, let alone tasted. The chef described it as
tasting more like butter than like fish, and he was right. So, now
we've added $65 to our bill bringing us to $415, and now we have
to tip for the best service of our life. 20% of $415 comes in just
under $500.

Now,
is it worth it? As a once-in-a-lifetime-special-occasion? YES! It
was absolutely incredible and we ate until we were in physical pain.
It was the most extravagant, sensual, incredible experience of our
lives. Every serving was a work of art, visually and gastronomically.

The menu
at V&A changes nightly. The server presented us each with our
own personalized menu. They were the same except that mine had fewer
dessert choices. Our server explained that the chef would prepare
anything on my menu and ensure it was GF. I
don't think I have enough adjectives to go through everything
we ate, but I'll touch on the highlights. Seared
Colorado Buffalo Tenderloin, Braised Fennel, Radishes, and Satsuma
Tangerine Vinaigrette  incredible!

Foie
Gras with Fuji Apple Tart and Mostarda di Cremona  we paid the
surcharge of $15 for this one and I think it was worth it. The Foie
Gras was too rich for me to take more than a couple bites, but I really
enjoyed the apples which were soaked in the meat drippings. My husband
finished the Foie Gras for me and was even more wild for it than I
was.

The Kobe
Beef Tenderloin was excellent, but I'm not sure it was worth
the $30 surcharge. The fame surrounding this beef has to do with the
cattle which receive regular massages and are fed beer along with
their feed. I think I'd rather be a Kobe cow than eat one. The
Cauliflower Puree that came with it, though, was divine.

Mark
had a cheese plate that included Pierre Robert cheese, which he fell
in love with. It was served with an amazing 1963 vintage Sandeman
Port, which has forever changed how we view port. Mark actually got
on the web to see if we could buy it, but it is rare and when available,
goes for upward of $200 a bottle. I had coconut gelato with micro
garden mint, which was fabulous, and it was served with a Moscato
D'Asti champagne.

Mark's
desert was off the menu for me, but bears mentioning simply because
of its incredible presentation. A pyramid of Tanzanie Dark Chocolate
Mousse was topped with a small edible gold flag. (Yes, real 24k gold.)
Along the sides of the pyramid was chopped strawberries and chocolate
sauce. The backdrop to this confection was a looming wafer-cookie,
with a picture of Cinderella's Castle and the words Dreams
Come True. Back
in the world of the celiac, I had vanilla crème brulee, which
was very good, but I couldn't eat very much at that point as
I was so incredibly full.

It is
incredible to me that I got to eat a meal like this and never once
worry about it making me sick. It's even more incredible that
I could eat off such an extensive menu without once asking can
you check to see if this is thickened with flour? This is proof
that food does not have to be tasteless to be GF. Worth every penny,
even if you leave penniless.

Ohana
Breakfast - Ohana
was a favorite of mine BC (Before Celiac) and I was disappointed that
it was off limits now (soy sauce city), but I was able to book us
for a character breakfast there. The characters are Mickey, Pluto,
Lilo, and Stitch. Adding to the fun, the kids get maracas to follow
the characters around the restaurant in a musical parade. This was
a pretty ordinary breakfast, the one exception being the Ohana Juice,
a mixture of orange, guava, and passion fruit, which is pretty darn
tasty.

Because
the meal is served family style, with the biscuits and waffles all
piled up on top of one big skillet, the chef brought me my own plate
with scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes. The sausage was also GF,
but I'm not a big sausage fan. It was hot and fresh and tasty.
Still,
if you are not traveling with a child under the age of 10, there is
no point in stopping here. The main attraction here is the characters.

Chef
Mickey's - This
is probably the most fun restaurant in all of Disney, with upbeat
music, a dessert buffet and make-your-own Sundae station, and most
importantly, plenty of face time with the Mouse Himself.

There
were plenty of things I could eat on the buffet (prime rib, mashed
potatoes, veggies), although I worried about cross-contamination.
The chef here did not offer to bring me food from the back, but he
probably would have if I had asked. He did bring me a gluten-free
brownie for dessert. It was a thick slice of dense, fudge-y
chocolate that was more like a decadence cake than an actual brownie.

If you
have children of any age, a group, or are looking for an upbeat party-atmosphere,
Chef Mickey's is a must-do. Romantic couples, on the other hand,
would probably do better to look elsewhere.

Chip
and Dale's Harvest Feast at the Garden Grill - This
character lunch/dinner is located in The Land pavilion in Epcot. The
restaurant rotates (very very slowly) above the Living With The Land
attraction, providing a glimpse of the ride below. Chip, Dale, Mickey,
and Pluto were on hand that day, coming to each table for pictures
and autographs. This meal is normally served family-style and includes
flank steak, turkey, and fried catfish. However, since I needed a
GF meal, they brought out our food on separate plates. There were
several things on my husband's plate that I couldn't have
(buttermilk biscuits, catfish, bread pudding), but my own food was
delicious. The mushroom sauce normally served on the beef is not GF,
so my serving was plain, but it was still great, like beef brisket
without the BBQ sauce. The turkey with cranberry sauce was moist and
tasty and the mashed potatoes were a great compliment to the meal.
The waitress also brought me GF rolls (the same tapioca rolls I had
at Crystal Palace ) and offered to make me a dessert, but I was stuffed.

Laura Schmitt,

January 2007

This
is for the Celiac page (there are three reviews there, and I hoped
to add to that with this blog link that shows pictures of what we
ate in Disneyworld as well as brief descriptions)

We ate
Gluten free and Dairy free, so this would be useful info for those
with Celiac, Autism and other dairy/wheat allergies.

Roger,

August 2006

We
were incredibly surprised by the overwhelming support of my wife's
celiac's disease. Most experiences were excellent, some were horrible.

In general,
when booking a reservation, tell them you have a food allergy, and
list Celiac's disease. We were told once there that buffet places
are much better, because they have a very well equipped kitchen, and
even if they have limited selections at the buffet, with so many ingredients
in the kitchen, they can prepare lots of variety to bring out to you.

We ate
at Cape May (Beach Club) - just ok overall, but they were very
very accomodating, and made my wife her own salmon plate, salads,
and mussels.

Hoop
de Doo Review - none of the served food was Gluten Free, so they
call ahead a day before and asked what you'd like. My wife asked for
grilled veggies, ribs, chicken - and got mountains of it all. Her
food was miles better than the rest of ours (looking back, I might
be tempted to say we were all need that custom meal, cause it was
awesome).

Boma
- wow. The food was awesome for our tastes. It was tough to have
to skip the couscous, and many breads, etc - but still crazy amounts
of tasty foods that were gluten free. They also brought out a gluten
free cake that was phenomenal.

Dining
with Cinderella in the Castle - my wife sent her food back, and
didn't eat (we got our money back for her meal). We got the impression
that all food is premade, and assembled before service. She ordered
the same as me, and got the meat only on the potatoes, with no garnish
or sauce. It was really really pathetic. For such an expensive meal,
what a disappointment.

For Counter
Services - you can walk up and ask for a list of ingredients because
you have a food allergy. You can have look at the menu and figure
out what you can eat, and get it. That's hard-ish - because it takes
some time to get that, scrub it, and then if you find that you can't
eat there, you have to do it again. The wood fired oven-cooked gluten
free pizza at Pizza Planet (MGM) WAS awesome. So were the ribs at
Flame Tree (Animal Kingdom). The chef at the Port Orleans French Quarter
was very very nice and cooked my wife a very good chicken and salad
lunch, and gave her a WICKED good gluten free cheesecake. He was super,
and will make stuff to order with any advance noticed (he offered
gluten free pancakes for breakfast, but it was our last day).

All in
all - getting the dining plan and eating at disney was wonderful.

Lynda Hodgins

2006

After
having been to Disney World several times with my family, we faced
a new challenge in 2005, when my 8yr old daughter was diagnosed with
Celiac Disease.

Being
an avid planner, I took on the challenge of ensuring that our annual
trip to Disney World would be just as wonderful, as it was each and
every other time. Plus, I didn't want my daughter to feel deprived
in any way, as a result of having her dining options limited. I researched
our options feverishly for months, and I can honestly say, that it
was well worth it in the end.

Here
are some helpful tips and some information, for anyone who is traveling
to Disney World with a child, (or adult), with Celiac Disease.

First
and foremost, I must commend Disney's table-service restaurants, for
being extraordinarily knowledgeable and accommodating to our family.
They literally came and sat at our table with my daughter, and asked
her what she would like, and made some suggestions. Every meal she
ate was outstanding. Luckily, my daughter is not a picky eater, so
that, I will admit, was very helpful. She's more inclined to eat mashed
potatoes and vegetables, than French fries and chicken nuggets anyways,
so that made things easier!

The one
thing I do have to say is that you must indicate, if you are making
Advance Reservations, that you have a member of your party who has
a food allergy, (and yes, be sure to specify Celiac Disease),. When
you arrive, you must again remind them of the allergy and ask to speak
with the chef. The Chef usually will come to your table when you are
seated, and sometimes, they will contact you in advance by phone,
as you'll read below.

We dined
at Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast, and she had a wonderful
breakfast provided to her. The chef came out to greet us and asked
all sorts of questions as to what she liked and disliked and seemed
fairly knowledgeable about Celiac. She was a little blue, however,
that she couldn't have the croissants, rolls and muffins that were
set out for the rest of us on the table, so we asked to have them
removed, which they did, and we all abstained.

Breakfast
at the Crystal Palace was great and the Chef, again, came to speak
with us when we were seated. He took my daughter and I up to the buffet
and pointed out what she could and couldn't have. He offered to make
her some GF waffles, which we accepted, and she had a wonderful omelet
made for her. You do need to let them know about any allergy, so that
they can make it separately, if needed.

We also
dined for breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, which was also great. The chef
called us at our hotel the day before our reservation, and asked for
info on what my daughter liked. When we arrived at the restaurant,
we alerted our greeter that we'd need to see the chef, and she came
out to walk us through the buffet, and then went to the kitchen to
get her special GF waffle. Great service, once again.

We dined
at Chef Mickey's for supper at the Contemporary resort on our first
evening of our trip, and it was great. The chef had actually called
us at home to go over her preferences, and greeted us when we were
seated so that he could walk us through the buffet. Again, he offered
to make her GF versions of many of the items in the buffet. Luckily,
the adult buffet, with roast prime rib and mashed potatoes is right
up my daughter's alley, so no special requests were necessary.

The 50's
Prime Time Café was good for lunch. The chef prepared her GF
chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes, and prepared all her favorite
veggies as well.

And finally,
on our last evening there, we went to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. The
chef called us at our hotel a few days in advance to see what she
would like to eat. They made her grilled chicken and peppers, corn
on the cob, and rice. For dessert, she had a huge bowl of fresh fruit.
We were amazed at the amount and quality of her Gluten free meal.
The only down side, was that she had no option for dessert, other
than fruit. She was blue again to see all the strawberry shortcake
being handed out, so again, two of us abstained, however my 4yr old,
HAD to eat it!!

So, the
table-service restaurants scored an A+ with regards to their service,
attentiveness, and knowledge of my daughter's allergy. One minor exception
being that she couldn't have strawberry shortcake with her meal at
the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. That could be an easy-fix, however, as it
is easy to make up GF white cake, and freeze slices of it in the freezer.
Then, all that would need to be added would be the strawberries and
whipped cream, (provided they are prepared separately from the rest
of the strawberry shortcakes, i.e. not using the same utensils to
spoon the strawberries or whipped cream on. Also, I am certain that
somewhere, some company makes GF frozen strawberry shortcake, or a
version of it.),. It must be stressed however, that even if you indicate,
when you make your advance reservations, that you have an allergy,
you still need to mention to the cast member at the podium when you
check in for your reservation, that you will need to see the chef,
as well as the cast member who seats you, and your waitress/waiter.

With
regards to counter service restaurants, I must say, our favorites
were Toy Story Pizza Planet at MGM, and Flame Tree Barbecue at Animal
Kingdom. Toy Story Pizza Planet makes GF pizzas that are outstanding,
but they take longer to make, as they have to be cooked at Mama Melrose's,
next door. It only takes about 5-7 minutes to wait, and it's worth
it. She was thrilled and it tasted great. We ate there twice during
our trip. Flame Tree Barbecue was also great and she had ribs and
corn on the cob, along with a delicious cup of frozen lemonade that
was so refreshing on a hot October afternoon. It was a great surprise
to be eating lunch and have Mickey and Goofy and a few others, float
by in a boat. A cast member had alerted us that they'd be coming by,
so we were prepared, and it was a great treat. Flame Tree Barbecue
and Toy Story were our best counter-service experiences, though I'll
admit, at Flame Tree, they had NO idea what I was talking about, when
I mentioned that we had a gluten allergy. I just asked for info on
their barbecue sauce for their ribs and left it at that. I would suggest
that anyone else do the same, as their ingredients could change.

We went
to Liberty Inn at EPCOT, and again, no one knew what we were talking
about. Luckily, I carried GF crackers and cookies, etc with us, wherever
we went. They did have a designated fryer for people with allergies
so French fries were an option. Apparently, they have GF buns for
hotdogs, though I wasn't sure if the wieners were GF, so opted against
taking the chance.

We stopped
for ice cream at the Plaza Ice Cream shop and, though the older gentleman
who worked at the cash had no idea what Celiac or gluten was, he had
a book with all the ice creams they had, and it had a listing for
what was nut-free, gluten-free, suitable for diabetics, etc. So that
was helpful.

And finally,
as most Celiacs know, McDonald's fries are not gluten-free, so the
little stands around Disney are now out for those with Celiac.

The popcorn
at Magic Kingdom is Orville Redenbacher's and is GF. So is the Itzakadoozie
popsicle, which is available around Disney in the ice cream carts.

The only
place where we really noticed a lack of accommodations for gluten
allergies was at our hotel, Pop Century. The food court was not accommodating
at all, and we really had few, if any options for my daughter. We
rarely ate there as a result, though we occasionally picked up fresh
fruit and potato chips, and purchased milk to put on her GF cereal
that we brought. We had one Caesar salad made to order, and it was
quite an ordeal, as they kept trying to put croutons in it. I reiterated
how important it was that the salad be made in a clean, fresh bowl
with clean, fresh salad tongs. She was ill shortly thereafter, so
I'm not too convinced that my request was accommodated well. I had
alerted Pop Century that we would be coming in with someone with gluten
allergies, and asked if there would be anything that they could provide
at the food court such as GF pizza or spaghetti, but no one ever got
back to me.

Here
are some Disney numbers for contacts regarding dining with allergies,
and attending the parks with someone who has allergies:

From
Disney.ca:

If you
have specific inquiries or would like recommendations regarding the
food served at the park restaurants, you are welcome to call the executive
chefs or Food and Beverage managers for our theme parks, at the telephone
numbers listed below. If no one is immediately available when you
call, please be sure to leave a message and a telephone number where
you may be reached.

We would
also like to mention that as an exception to our standard policy,
guests who have specific food allergies are welcome to bring their
own small snack items with them into the theme parks.
However, picnic baskets, ice chests, and coolers are not permitted.

Another
thing to note, for those on the Disney Dining Plan: We were concerned
that our daughter wouldn't be able to have any of the counter service
meals, given the fact that the plan stipulates that children must
have a child's meal. My husband and I had visions of the two us eating
cheese pizzas or chicken nuggets for our entire trip, while our daughter
ate our adult meals. As you may have noticed, nearly all children's
meals are overloaded with gluten, (PB & J sandwiches, breaded
chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and pizzas),. I asked our travel agent,
to find out for us if there was any lenience on the policy, and this
is what she had to say: "After calling Disney Dining 407WDWDINE
they assured me that you will be able to go to any fast food restaurant
and talk to the manager if needed. You should be able to get anything
suitable for gluten free meals on the menu for your daughter even
if it is an adult item. "